Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for an Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist or Registered Nurse to join the Sunflower Day Centre service.
This role is based in Taunton. You will join us on a full-time permanent basis and in return, you will receive a competitive salary of £34,024.24 per annum for 37.5 hours per week.
This role has a working pattern of Monday to Friday, start/finish times can be flexible, but must cover the core hours of 09:00-15:30.
This is an excellent opportunity where your existing skills, knowledge and experience can be developed further through our ongoing investment in your professional development.
Access to in-service training and courses on and off site in line with CPD and Service Development are available.
Main duties of the job
You will be joining a well-established and experienced multi-disciplinary team of clinicians.
Our service provides a holistic multi-faceted approach to specialist palliative care assessment, treatment and support to ensure that patients with life limiting illnesses have appropriate access to a wide range of services and activities to meet their needs.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Planning and delivering therapeutic group sessions
- Individual assessments
- Delivering individualised support and intervention
- Day to day management of support staff and volunteers
- Ongoing evaluation and development of the service.
About us
Be part of a welcoming, community minded charity. Our mission is to provide excellent specialist palliative care for patients and support to their families.
If you speak to any of our staff or volunteers, they will tell you how the patient is at the heart of everything they do. So, if you're looking for a role where you can really make a difference, working as part of a supportive team, we could be a perfect match.
Holiday entitlement
- 33 days holiday including bank holidays rising to 35 days after 1 year, and increasing with length of service (pro-rata if part-time)
- Recognise continuous service for clinical staff paid at band 5+ who join directly from the NHS or another hospice
- Ability to buy and sell annual leave
Pension scheme
- NHS employees eligible to continue with their NHS pension scheme*
- Non-NHS employees will receive 5.5% employer and 5% employee contribution.
Award-winning Employee Assistance Programme for you and your family offering:
- Vitality & wellbeing health portal for non-emergency care
- Unlimited access to 24/7 online GP Consultations as well as Expert Case Management
- Confidential and free 24-hour Employee Assistance
- Counselling and support
- Legal, financial, and medical information and advice
And more
- Life assurance cover 2x salary
- Health Cash Plans
- Blue Light Discount Card
- Enhanced maternity leave*
- Excellent learning and development opportunities
- Free on-site parking in Yeovil and Taunton
- Volunteering and fundraising opportunities
*Eligibility criteria applies
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical:
- Maintain expertise in both specialist palliative care and leadership and management in order to effectively lead the Sunflower Centre service.
- To prioritise, triage and co-ordinate patient flow through the Sunflower Centre.
- To allocate and oversee the clinical activity of more junior staff and volunteers.
- To complete holistic assessments of need, create a patient centred care plan and deliver/co-ordinate interventions as appropriate.
- Manage the delivery and evaluation of goal focused, meaningful activity and interventions on a group and individual basis.
- Evaluate interventions and identify ways of meeting further needs or making appropriate onward referral/signposting post discharge.
- Working with the wider multidisciplinary team to co-ordinate patients care, referring to other teams and services as appropriate.
- Escalate concerns regarding changes in the patients condition/behaviour as appropriate
- Maintain accurate clinical and statistical records
- To be responsible for the efficient planning and organisation of transport for Sunflower Centre patients in liaison with volunteer drivers and external transport agencies.
- Work within St Margarets Hospice clinical policies/guidelines and adhere to own Professional Body guidelines and standards.
- Work as an autonomous practitioner without direct supervision, seeking support when relevant.
- To oversee and supervise the clinical work of more junior staff and volunteers.
- To be responsible and accountable for the clinical delivery of services in the sunflower centre setting under the leadership of the Therapy and day Services Lead.
Managerial:
- Respond in a timely fashion to informal and formal complaints in accordance with hospice policy and procedure.
- Ensure staff and volunteers working in the Sunflower Centre have access to necessary support, training and skills to fulfil their role
- Provide day to day supervision and coordination of staff and volunteers working in the Sunflower Centre.
- Ensure the volunteers are aware of the individual needs of patients and carers.
- Lead in the recruitment and induction for new staff including volunteers with Therapy and Day Services Lead oversight.
- Identify areas of risk, service or resource gaps and areas for quality improvement, managing or escalating these as appropriate.
- Manage and deliver staff supervision and appraisals
- To make effective and efficient use of resources.
- Liaise with key staff in order to maintain the upkeep of equipment used within the department to ensure its safe, effective and accurate use with patients.
- Be responsible for the identification of occupational hazards and complete the departmental risk assessment, safeguarding the health and safety of patients, volunteers and staff in the Sunflower Centre, escalating to the Therapy and Day Services Lead as necessary.
- Review guidelines and protocols suggesting change when needed.
- Ensure the correct use of equipment and identify additional needs/resources for the Sunflower Centre
- Be responsible for the oversight and delivery of student placements, work experience and induction visits within the Sunflower Centre.
Education
- To be responsible for and actively record your own personal development.
- To ensure professional and educational training needs of staff and volunteers are identified.
- Responsible for oversight of mandatory and statutory training compliance and clinical competence of staff and volunteers.
- To identify relevant policy and practice changes, leading or escalating changes as appropriate.
- Organise and implement training sessions when required internally and externally.
- To disseminate knowledge to Sunflower Centre Team through in-service training and be available for training other health care professionals as required.
- Promote awareness of the Sunflower Centre to improve access to the service and accuracy of referrals internally and externally.
Research/audit
- To participate in appropriate work related research/evaluation projects and to be aware of current relevant research.
- To participate in quality improvement projects, audit and service evaluation in the Sunflower Centre.
Effort
- Responsible for moving and handling assessments and plans for Sunflower Centre patients, escalating to other services and professionals as appropriate.
- Frequent handling of patients with significant mobility problems and can involve the use of hoists, wheelchairs, and other mobility equipment; it also involves regular fitting of equipment.
- To interact sensitively with patients who have high levels of anxiety, distress, aggression and/or cognitive impairment
- To support staff and volunteers with the emotional burden of their role.
- To take on unscheduled tasks and work under pressure.
Communication and People Skills
- To liaise with other members of the multi-disciplinary team as necessary with regard to patient care.
- To communicate effectively with other agencies/disciplines both internally and externally to ensure a multi-disciplinary approach to care.
- To be able to communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff including having difficult conversations.
- To ensure timely and effective communication with the line manager and other senior staff on all professional matters.
- To attend any meetings, or case conferences as appropriate in order to ensure appropriate and timely management of patients through to discharge.
- Work effectively with those patients who first language is not English and take into consideration diversity issues in particular differing cultural awareness.
- Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating. For example, patients who may be dysphasic, depressed, deaf, blind or who may be unable to accept diagnosis/prognosis and to assist them to reach realism of their capabilities.
- To arrange and lead team meetings, daily huddle and training sessions
- Develop positive working relationships with other professionals within St Margarets Somerset Hospice and organisations throughout Somerset
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical:
- Maintain expertise in both specialist palliative care and leadership and management in order to effectively lead the Sunflower Centre service.
- To prioritise, triage and co-ordinate patient flow through the Sunflower Centre.
- To allocate and oversee the clinical activity of more junior staff and volunteers.
- To complete holistic assessments of need, create a patient centred care plan and deliver/co-ordinate interventions as appropriate.
- Manage the delivery and evaluation of goal focused, meaningful activity and interventions on a group and individual basis.
- Evaluate interventions and identify ways of meeting further needs or making appropriate onward referral/signposting post discharge.
- Working with the wider multidisciplinary team to co-ordinate patients care, referring to other teams and services as appropriate.
- Escalate concerns regarding changes in the patients condition/behaviour as appropriate
- Maintain accurate clinical and statistical records
- To be responsible for the efficient planning and organisation of transport for Sunflower Centre patients in liaison with volunteer drivers and external transport agencies.
- Work within St Margarets Hospice clinical policies/guidelines and adhere to own Professional Body guidelines and standards.
- Work as an autonomous practitioner without direct supervision, seeking support when relevant.
- To oversee and supervise the clinical work of more junior staff and volunteers.
- To be responsible and accountable for the clinical delivery of services in the sunflower centre setting under the leadership of the Therapy and day Services Lead.
Managerial:
- Respond in a timely fashion to informal and formal complaints in accordance with hospice policy and procedure.
- Ensure staff and volunteers working in the Sunflower Centre have access to necessary support, training and skills to fulfil their role
- Provide day to day supervision and coordination of staff and volunteers working in the Sunflower Centre.
- Ensure the volunteers are aware of the individual needs of patients and carers.
- Lead in the recruitment and induction for new staff including volunteers with Therapy and Day Services Lead oversight.
- Identify areas of risk, service or resource gaps and areas for quality improvement, managing or escalating these as appropriate.
- Manage and deliver staff supervision and appraisals
- To make effective and efficient use of resources.
- Liaise with key staff in order to maintain the upkeep of equipment used within the department to ensure its safe, effective and accurate use with patients.
- Be responsible for the identification of occupational hazards and complete the departmental risk assessment, safeguarding the health and safety of patients, volunteers and staff in the Sunflower Centre, escalating to the Therapy and Day Services Lead as necessary.
- Review guidelines and protocols suggesting change when needed.
- Ensure the correct use of equipment and identify additional needs/resources for the Sunflower Centre
- Be responsible for the oversight and delivery of student placements, work experience and induction visits within the Sunflower Centre.
Education
- To be responsible for and actively record your own personal development.
- To ensure professional and educational training needs of staff and volunteers are identified.
- Responsible for oversight of mandatory and statutory training compliance and clinical competence of staff and volunteers.
- To identify relevant policy and practice changes, leading or escalating changes as appropriate.
- Organise and implement training sessions when required internally and externally.
- To disseminate knowledge to Sunflower Centre Team through in-service training and be available for training other health care professionals as required.
- Promote awareness of the Sunflower Centre to improve access to the service and accuracy of referrals internally and externally.
Research/audit
- To participate in appropriate work related research/evaluation projects and to be aware of current relevant research.
- To participate in quality improvement projects, audit and service evaluation in the Sunflower Centre.
Effort
- Responsible for moving and handling assessments and plans for Sunflower Centre patients, escalating to other services and professionals as appropriate.
- Frequent handling of patients with significant mobility problems and can involve the use of hoists, wheelchairs, and other mobility equipment; it also involves regular fitting of equipment.
- To interact sensitively with patients who have high levels of anxiety, distress, aggression and/or cognitive impairment
- To support staff and volunteers with the emotional burden of their role.
- To take on unscheduled tasks and work under pressure.
Communication and People Skills
- To liaise with other members of the multi-disciplinary team as necessary with regard to patient care.
- To communicate effectively with other agencies/disciplines both internally and externally to ensure a multi-disciplinary approach to care.
- To be able to communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff including having difficult conversations.
- To ensure timely and effective communication with the line manager and other senior staff on all professional matters.
- To attend any meetings, or case conferences as appropriate in order to ensure appropriate and timely management of patients through to discharge.
- Work effectively with those patients who first language is not English and take into consideration diversity issues in particular differing cultural awareness.
- Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating. For example, patients who may be dysphasic, depressed, deaf, blind or who may be unable to accept diagnosis/prognosis and to assist them to reach realism of their capabilities.
- To arrange and lead team meetings, daily huddle and training sessions
- Develop positive working relationships with other professionals within St Margarets Somerset Hospice and organisations throughout Somerset
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Registration and Professional qualification; Nurse, Physiotherapist, or Occupational Therapist.
Desirable
- Evidence of postgraduate qualifications or CPD relevant to palliative care
- Teaching or coaching qualification or training
- Leadership/management qualification or training.
Self Awareness
Essential
- Ability to prioritise and organise own workload and the work of others
Working with others
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills with particular ability to liaise effectively with patients, the multi- disciplinary team and across organisations with individuals at a range of levels.
- Ability to communicate effectively with people about difficult or sensitive topics and/or in difficult situations
- Experience of mentorship/supervision
- Significant experience of multi-disciplinary / multi-agency working
Desirable
- Experience of managing a team
Outcome and Results
Essential
- Ability to manage resources effectively
- Demonstrate sound clinical decision making in the assessment of patients and the implementation and evaluation of treatment plans plus patient-centred short and long-term goals.
- Computer literate, able to use word documents, spreadsheets and email communication.
Desirable
- Experience of developing and implementing change
Leading in your area
Essential
- Demonstrates a clear understanding of specialist palliative care and the needs of patients and families
- Experience of working as an autonomous practitioner
Desirable
- Knowledge and/or experience of the principles of Rehabilitative Palliative Care.
Other Requirements
Essential
- Ability to meet the physical demands of the role.
- Able to travel to meet requirements of the role
- Ability to flexibly cover the service during its times of operation.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Registration and Professional qualification; Nurse, Physiotherapist, or Occupational Therapist.
Desirable
- Evidence of postgraduate qualifications or CPD relevant to palliative care
- Teaching or coaching qualification or training
- Leadership/management qualification or training.
Self Awareness
Essential
- Ability to prioritise and organise own workload and the work of others
Working with others
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills with particular ability to liaise effectively with patients, the multi- disciplinary team and across organisations with individuals at a range of levels.
- Ability to communicate effectively with people about difficult or sensitive topics and/or in difficult situations
- Experience of mentorship/supervision
- Significant experience of multi-disciplinary / multi-agency working
Desirable
- Experience of managing a team
Outcome and Results
Essential
- Ability to manage resources effectively
- Demonstrate sound clinical decision making in the assessment of patients and the implementation and evaluation of treatment plans plus patient-centred short and long-term goals.
- Computer literate, able to use word documents, spreadsheets and email communication.
Desirable
- Experience of developing and implementing change
Leading in your area
Essential
- Demonstrates a clear understanding of specialist palliative care and the needs of patients and families
- Experience of working as an autonomous practitioner
Desirable
- Knowledge and/or experience of the principles of Rehabilitative Palliative Care.
Other Requirements
Essential
- Ability to meet the physical demands of the role.
- Able to travel to meet requirements of the role
- Ability to flexibly cover the service during its times of operation.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
